HONOURS were even on the second day of Berkshire's Minor Counties Championship, Western Division match against Dorset at Finchampstead yesterday.

After losing the whole first day to rain, Berkshire were indebted to former Kent slow left-arm bowler Dicky Davis (5-66) for restricting champions Dorset to 203 in their first innings.

But Dorset leg-spinner Vyvian Pike (4-54) stopped Berkshire taking control and they finished on 160-6 in reply - still 43 runs behind.

Berkshire's pace attack struggled to contain Dorset's early batting as Neil Gunter went for 27 runs in three overs.

Matthew Swarbrick (57) helped take the west country side to 112-2 before Davis started to make inroads into the innings to reduce them to 131-6. A late flourish by Stuart Rintoul (41no) boosted their score to over 200 before Davis polished them off aided by Paul Carter (2-26).

Berkshire skipper Julian Wood (42) kept their reply ticking despite being reduced to 76-4. Carter (30) and Mark Lane (22no) continued the good work before Carter was bowled just before the close.